SERMON, 


PREACHED  JANUARY  12,  1814, 


AT 


THE  OLD  SOUTH  CHURCH;  BOSTON; 


BEFORE 


THE  SOCIETY  FOR  FOREIGN  MISSIONS 


OF 


BOSTON  AND  THE  VICINITY. 


BY  WILLIAM  GREENOUGH, 

f ASTOR  OP  THE  SECOND  CONGREGATIONAL 
CHURCH  IS  XEWTOX. 


PUBLISHED  AT  THE  REQUEST  OF  THE  S0C1ETT. 


BOSTON  : 

PRINTED  BT  NATHANIEL  WILLIS,  NO.  76,  STATE-STREET 


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SERMON. 


JAMES  V.  20. 

BE  wnO  CONVERTETH  A SINNER  FROM  THE  ERROUR  OF  HIS  WAT,  SHALE 
SATE  A SOUL  FROM  DEATH,  AND  SHALL  HIJQE  A MULTITUDE  OF  SINS. 


.Tames  was  the  son  of  Alpheus  and  brother  of 
Jude.  He  wrote  his  Epistle  to  his  Hebrew  brethren 
dispersed  in  the  several  provinces  of  the  Roman 
empire,  some  of  whom  had  been  converted  to  the 
Christian  faith.  It  contains  many  excellent  direc- 
tions for  the  government  of  their  hearts  and  lives. 
In  the  chapter  from  which  my  text  is  selected,  he, 
among  other  things,  exhorts  to  the  duty  of  prayer. 
To  enforce  the  practice  of  this  he  observes,  “ The. 
effectual,  fervent  prayer  of  a righteous  man  availeth 
much.”  To  illustrate  and  confirm  this  truth,  lie 
mentions  the  case  of  Elias.  After  thus  recommend- 
ing the  duty  of  prayer,  lie  concludes  his  Epistle  with 
this  declaration,  “He  who  converteth  a sinner  from 
the  errourofhis  way , shall  save  a soul  from  death , 


4 


and  shall  hide  a multitude  of  sins .”  Let  us  spend 
a few  moments  in  noticing  the  truths  contained  in 
these  words,  and  consider  what  improvement  we 
should  make  of  them. 

By  the  term  soul,  as  used  in  the  text,  we  may 
understand  the  whole  man.  In  this  sense  it  is  used 
chap.  i.  verse  21,  of  this  Epistle:  “ Lay  apart  all 
filthiness,  and  superfluity  of  naughtiness,  and  receive 
with  meekness  the  ingrafted  word,  which  is  able  to 
save  your  souls.”  With  propriety  might  St.  James 
use  the  term  soul  in  the  sense  just  mentioned,  as  the 
soul  is  the  most  noble,  the  most  valuable  part  of 
man.  By  the  rational  powers  of  our  souls  we  are 
allied  to  angels.  By  these  we  are  distinguished 
from  the  birds  of  the  air,  and  the  beasts  of  the  field. 
We  are  capable  of  knowing,  loving,  and  serving  the 
great  Creator  of  all  things.  By  our  understandings 
we  discern  His  perfections,  as  revealed  in  His  word, 
as  manifested  by  the  works  of  His  hands,  and  by 
the  dispensations  of  His  providence.  AVre  distin- 
guish between  right  and  wrong,  virtue  and  vice. 
By  the  affections  of  our  souls  we  are  capable  of 
loving  and  bating  those  things  which  come  within 
the  circle  of  our  knowledge.  By  our  wills  we 
choose  or  refuse  those  objects  which  invite  our  atten- 
tion ; which  we  accordingly  seek  after,  or  neglect, 
as  our  inclinations  dictate. 


5 


Happiness  lias  in  every  age  been  the  desire  of 
mankind.  Multitudes,  having  looked  for  it  in 
wrong  objects,  have  sought  it  in  vain.  Many  have 
sadly  overlooked  the  important  thought  that  the 
soul  is  the  seat  of  comfort,  that  it  cannot  he  found  in 
external  objects.  “ The  good  man,”  says  Solomon^ 
“shall  be  satisfied  from  himself.”  “ Great  peace,” 
observes  king  l)avid,  “ have  they  that  love  thy  law.” 
Though  the  apostles  experienced  peculiar  sorrows, 
they  found  a consolation  within,  of  which  the  malice 
of  their  enemies  was  unable  to  deprive  them.  It  was 
the  language  of  St.  Paul,  “ Our  rejoicing  is  this,  the 
testimony  of  our  conscience,  that  in  simplicity  and 
godly  sincerity,  not  with  fleshly  wisdom,  hut  by  the 
grace  of  God,  we  have  had  our  conversation  in  the 
world.”  At  another  time  he  writes  thus  : “ As  sor- 
rowful, yet  always  rejoicing.” 

The  soul  is  the  seat  of  sorrow.  How  unhappy 
the  man  who  feels  the  censures  of  a guilty,  con- 
demning conscience  ! How  insufficient  arc  the 
riches  and  houours  of  the  world  to  calm  the  tumult 
of  his  troubled  mind ! “ The  wicked  are  like  the 

troubled  sea  when  it  cannot  rest,  whose  waters  cast 
up  mire  and  dirt.”  “The  spirit  of  a man  will  sus- 
tain his  infirmity,  hut  a icounded  spirit  who  can 
bear 


6 


The  moral  state,  or  the  prevailing  temper  of  tlie 
soul,  constitutes  a person’s  true  character.  “Ashe 
thinketh  in  his  heart,”  says  the  wise  man,  “ so  is 
he.”  All  the  graces  which  ennoble  the  character  of 
the  sincere  Christian,  reside  in  the  heart.  Accord- 
ingly our  Saviour  pronounced  the  “ poor  in  spirit,” 
the  “ pure  in  heart,”  and  others  of  a similar  temper, 
“ blessed.”  Unable  to  discern  the  hearts  of  our 
fellow  men,  we  form  our  opinion  of  them  by  their 
lives.  Not  so  is  it  with  the  Most  High.  “ He  seeth 
not  as  man  seeth  ;”  He  looketh  not  at  the  outward 
appearance,  but  at  the  heart.  He  requireth  “ truth 
in  the  inward  parts.” 

By  his  holy,  benevolent  spirit  does  the  child  of 
God  bear  some  resemblance  to  his  heavenly  Father. 
By  this  is  he  disposed  to  serve  Him  in  this  life,  and 
rendered  meet  for  the  fruition  of  Him  in  that  which 
is  to  come.  In  his  soul,  or  by  the  moral  disposition 
of  his  heart,  docs  the  impenitent  sinner  Resemble  the 
grand  adversary.  This  disposes  him  to  walk  in  the 
ways  of  disobedience.  This  lits  him  for  that  de- 
struction or  misery  which  awaits  him  beyond  the 
grave. 


Though  our  bodies  must  return  to  their  original 
dust,  our  souls  are  immortal.  In  this  they  resemble 


/ 


the  great,  the  eternal  Jehovah.  If  endowed  with 
the  graces  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  they  will  hereafter 
enjoy  a happiness  suited  to  their  nature,  and  lasting 
as  eternity  itself. 

In  addition  to  the  above  remarks  to  evince  the 
great  worth  of  the  soul,  let  it  be  considered  that  the 
exercises  of  our  hearts  affect  us  not  only  in  the  pre- 
sent life,  but  in  that  eternal  state  into  which  we 
must  pass  at  death.  “ Whatsoever  a man  soweth, 
that  shall  lie  also  reap.  He  that  soweth  to  his  flesh, 
shall  of  the  flesh  reap  corruption,  but  he  that  soweth 
to  the  Spirit,  shall  of  the  Spirit  reap  life  everlast- 
ing.” Had  not  our  souls  been  highly  valuable,  can 
it  be  supposed  that  God,  whose  wisdom  is  infinite, 
would  have  used  such  means,  at  one  period  and 
another,  for  promoting  their  safety  and  happiness  ? 
Would  He,  “at  sundry  times  and  in  diverse  man- 
ners, [have]  spoken  in  times  past  unto  the  fathers  by 
the  prophets?”  Would  He  have  sent  His  dearly 
beloved  Son  to  suffer  and  die  a most  painful  and 
ignominious  death,  “ that  whosoever  believeth  in 
Him  should  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life”  ? 
“ Ye  were  not  redeemed  with  corruptible  things, 
as  silver  and  gold, — but  with  the  precious  blood  of 
Christ.”  Who  of  us  can  believe  that  such  a price 
has  been  paid  for  w'hat  is  of  small  value?  “'What 
is  a man  advantaged  if  he  gain  the  whole  world,  and 
lose  his  own  soul  ?” 


8 


“ Know’st  thou  tli*  importance  of  a soul  immortal  ? 
Behold  this  midnight  glory;  worlds  on  worlds  ! 
Amazing  pomp  ' Redouble  this  amaze  ; 

Ten  thousand  add  ; add  twice  ten  thousand  more  ; 
Then  weigh  the  whole— one  soul  outweighs  them  all. 
And  calls  th’  astonishing  magnificence 
Of  unintelligent  creation  poor.”  * 


Iii  the  passage  before  us  St.  Janies  speaks  of 
converting  a sinner.  By  consulting  the  sacred  vo- 
lume, we  shall  find  that  the  word  convert  is  used  to 
import  the  renovation  of  the  heart,  or  a turning  from 
the  power  of  sin  to  God.  John  xii.  40,  we  read, 
u That  they  should  not — understand  with  their  heart, 
and  he  converted , and  I should  heal  them.”  Acts 
iii.  19,  the  apostle  exhorts,  “ Repent,  and  he  con- 
verted, that  your  sins  may  he  blotted  out.”  Con- 
verting a sinner,  in  the  most  important  sense,  denotes 
something  more  than  leading  him  to  renounce  somo 
trivial  errours  in  sentiment,  or  some  small  immorali- 
ties in  practice.  It  imports  a turning  from  the  love 
and  practice  of  sin,  to  the  love  and  obedience  of  the 
truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus.  Accordingly  the  author  of 
the  text  speaks  of  saving  a soul  from  death.  Those 
who  are  under  the  guilt  and  power  of  sin,  arc  in  a 
state  of  spiritual  death.  u You  hath  lie  quickened 
who  were  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins.”  Persons 
destitute  of  the  sanctifying  influences  of  the  Holy 


* Dn.  Yousg. 


9 


Spirit  are  (lead  to  God,  and  dead  to  His  service. 
They  have  no  principle  of  spiritual  life.  Enemies 
to  God  by  wicked  works,  they  arc  liable  to  death 
temporal  and  eternal.  (i  The  wages  ot  sin  is  death. 
From  this  death  are  all  those  delivered  who  believe 
in  and  obey  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  lie  himself  de- 
clared to  the  Jew  s,  “ If  a man  keep  my  saying,  he 
shall  never  see  death.”  His  language  to  Martha 
was,  “ I am  the  resurrection  and  the  life  ; he  that 
believeth  in  me,  though  he  were  dead,  yet  shall  lie 
live  : and  he  that  livcth  and  believeth  in  me,  shall 
never  die.”  In  the  book  of  Revelation  w e are  in- 
formed, “ Blessed — is  he  that  hath  part  in  the  first  re- 
surrection ; on  such  the  second  death  hath  no  pou'er.” 

Great  is  the  salvation  which  the  Gospel  reveals. 
It  came  from  God  ; it  leads  to  God.  Those  who 
partake  of  it  are  freed  from  the  curse  of  the  law. 
They  are  pardoned  and  justified.  AVhen  we  con- 
template the  nature  and  desert  of  sin,  the  sad  state  of 
those  who  are  under  the  condemnation  of  the  divine 
law,  do  We  not  readily  perceive  the  justness  of  the 
declaration  of  king  David,  iS  Blessed  is  he  whose 
transgression  is  forgiven,  whose  sin  is  covered  : 
blessed  is  the  man  unto  w hom  the  Lord  imputeth 
not  iniquity”  ? Such  a person  is  reconciled  to  God 
by  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.  To  him  “ there  is  no 

condemnation.”  LTnited  to  Jesus  by  faith,  he  is  en- 
9 


10 


titled  to  all  the  great  and  precious  promises  made  to 
believers.  All  is  his, — life  and  death,  things  pre- 
sent and  things  to  come.  All  events  which  befall 
him,  both  prosperous  and  adverse,  will  work  toge- 
ther for  his  good.  He  is  interested  in  the  favour  of 
God,  which  is  life,  in  his  loving  kindness,  which  is 
better  than  life.  The  Almighty  is  his  Father  and 
friend  while  lierf ; and  hereafter  he  will  be  admitted 
to  the  “ inheritance  incorruptible,  and  undeliled,  and 
that  fadeth  not  away,  reserved  in  heaven.” 

Let  us  now  consider  what  improvement  we  should 
make  of  the  truths  which  have  been  suggested. 

(1.)  We  learn  the  sad  state  of  the  impenitent 
transgressor.  Having  violated  the  law  of  God,  lie 
is  exposed  to  its  awful  penalty.  Destitute  of  a holy 
principle,  unwilling  to  submit  to  the  authority  of  the 
Most  High,  he  is  liable  to  his  righteous  displeasure. 
Are  any  of  you,  my  hearers,  pursuing  a course  of 
disobedience?  Are  you  neglecting  th'e  great  con- 
cerns of  your  souls?  Meditate  upon  your  guilt  and 
danger.  How  can  you  escape  if  you  neglect  the 
great  salvation  revealed  in  God’s  word?  Offers  of 
mercy  are  made  to  you  through  the  great  Redeemer. 
You  are  yet  prisoners  of  hope.  “ Behold  now  is  the 
accepted  time  ; behold  now  is  the  day  of  salvation." 
i(  The  Spirit  and  the  bride  say  come.  And  let  him 


it 


that  Iiearetli  say,  Come.  And  let  him  tliat  is  athirst 
come.  And  whosoever  will,  let  him  take  the  water 
of  life  freely.”  If  you  regard  your  eternal  all,  suf- 
fer not  the  cares  and  concerns  of  this  (i  present  evil 
world”  to  lead  you  to  look  at  things  seen  which  are 
temporal,  to  the  neglect  of  those  which  though  un- 
seen are  eternal. 

(2.)  Is  the  soul  highly  valuable  ? Arc  those  who 
are  converted  saved  f rom  death  ? IIow  strong  the 
inducement  to  save  our  own  souls,  and  the  souls  ol 
others  ! Are  any  ready  to  say,  “ Salvation  is  of 
God ; it  is  not  in  our  power  to  save  ourselves  or 
others”  ? If  this  is  granted,  it  ought  not  to  he  con- 
cluded that  nothing  is  required  of  us, — that  no  means 
should  be  used,  no  exertions  made  for  these  great 
purposes.  Though  God  is  omnipotent,  has  lie  not 
generally  accomplished  His  designs  in  the  natural 
and  moral  world  by  the  use  of  means?  Was  not 
Naaman  the  leper  directed  to  “wash  seven  times  in 
Jordan”?  By  a compliance  with  this  direction  he  was 
healed.  When  Jesus  gave  sight  to  the  man  born 
blind,  He  spat  on  the  ground,  made  clay,  anointed  his 
eyes,  and  directed  him  to  wash  in  the  pool  of  Siloarn. 

He  went,  and  washed,  and  came  seeing.”  Though 
God  could  have  illuminated  and  sanctified  the  minds 
of  men  by  His  Spirit  w ithout  any  means,  He  was 
pleased  to  use  the  labours  of  the  apostles  to  effect 


12 

these  great  ends.  St.  Paul  informs  us  that  “ faith 
cometh  by  hearing.”  “ It  pleased  God  by  the  fool- 
ishness of  preaching  to  save  them  that  believe.” 

Under  the  impression  of  this  truth  the  Society, 
at  whose  request  1 now  address  you,  has  been  form- 
ed, for  the  purpose  of  “ sending  the  Gospel  to  the 
heathen.”  How  noble,  bow  important  the  object ! 
To  induce  you,  my  hearers,  to  co-operate  Avith  them 
in  so  laudable  an  undertaking,  call  up  to  your  view 
the  sad,  the  pitiable  state  of  the  heathen  world. 
Consider  the  many  beneficial  effects  which,  by  a di- 
vine blessing,  may  be  produced  by  affording  them 
the  light  of  divine  truth.  Hoav  large  a portion  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  earth  “ sit  in  darkness,”  destitute  of 
the  light  of  “the  glorious  Gospel  of  the  blessed  God”  ! 
Millions  live  in  pagan  darkness,  and  in  Mahometan 
superstition.  Can  you  reflect  on  their  blindness, 
can  you  view  them  worshiping  dumb  idols,  can  you 
contrast  your  condition  with  theirs,  and  not  be  deep- 
ly affected  ? Must  not  your  sensations  be  similar  to 
those  of  an  apostle,  whose  “ spirit  was  stirred  within 
him”  Avlien  be  beheld  the  city  of  Athens  wholly 
given  up  to  idolatry?  Can  you  seriously  consider 
“ who  hath  made  you  to  differ,”  and  be  unwilling  to 
contribute  for  their  relief?  Many  observations  might 
be  made,  numerous  truths  might  be  set  before  you,  to 
convince  you  that  the  state  of  the  heathen  Avorld  is 


13 


such  as  loudly  to  call  for  your  commiseration  and 
•assistance.  But  as  so  much  has  been  said  on  this 
subject,  1 shall  content  myself  with  noticing  a few 
remarks  of  the  celebrated  Dr.  Buchanan,  wb  se  Re- 
searches afford  the  most  full  and  correct  information 
on  this  subject.  Speaking  of  the  darkness  of  the 
heathen  world,  he  observes,  “I  have  indeed  seen 
that  darkness  ; but  it  is  not  easy  to  describe  it.  No 
man  can  know  what  it  is  who  has  not  seen  it.  It  is 
no  less  dreadful  than  when  the  Israelites  beheld  at 
a distance  the  thick  darkness  of  Egypt  from  then- 
dwellings  in  Goshen,  where  there  was  light.  I have 
been  in  what  the  Scripture  calls  u the  chambers  of 
imagery,”  (Ezek.  viii.  12)  and  have  witnessed  the 
enormity  of  the  pagan  idolatry,  in  all  its  turpitude 
and  blood.  I can  now  better  understand  those  words 
of  the  Scriptures,  “ the  dark  places  of  the  earth  are 
full  of  the  habitations  of  cruelty.”  Psalm  Ixxiv.  20. 
I have  seen  the  libations  of  human  blood,  offered  to 
the  Moloch  of  the  eastern  world  ; and  an  assembly, 
not  of  two  thousand  only,  but  of  two  hundred  thou- 
sand, falling  prostrate  before  the  idol,  and  raising 
acclamations  to  his  name.”  Who  can  hear  this  from 
one  who  had  witnessed  what  he  relates,  and  not  be 
deeply  affected? 

Do  any  object  to  sending  the  Gospel  to  the  hea- 
then, by  saying,  “ Many  in  our  ow  n country  need 


14 


missionary  aid,  and  other  means  of  instruction*’  ? 
Though  the  preacher  is  far  from  questioning  this 
melancholy  truth,  may  it  not  he  pertinently  asked, 
whether  the  benevolent  spirit  of  Christianity  directs 
us  to  confine  our  exertions  to  our  “ brethren,  our 
kinsmen  according  to  the  flesh*’  ? Was  this  the  spi- 
rit which  actuated  the  great  apostle  of  the  gentiles? 
Are  those  whose  hearts  have  been  warmed  with  a 
missionary  spirit,  who  have  forsaken  their  country 
and  their  dearest  connections  for  the  cause  of  Christ 
and  the  good  of  souls,  to  be  left  to  suffer  in  a strange 
land,  w ithout  having  the  friendly  hand  of  their  bre- 
thren, who  call  themselves  Christians,  extended  for 
their  relief  ? God  forbid  ! 

Is  it  said  by  others,  u It  is  uncertain  whether  the 
time  for  the  conversion  of  the  heathen  is  come”  ? 
Let  such  consider  that  it  is  apparent  from  many  pas- 
sages of  Scripture,  that  Christianity  will  have  a uni- 
versal spread  through  the  world.  TI16  direction  is 
to  u preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature.”  Why 
should  we  not  do  what  is  in  our  pow  er  to  comply 
with  this  direction  ? If  we  reflect  upon  the  noble 
exertions  which  have  for  years  past  been  made  by 
the  London  Missionary  and  Bible  Societies,  and  by 
the  friends  of  Zion  in  other  places,  may  we  not  con- 
clude that  God,  w ho  has  the  hearts  of  all  in  His 
hands,  has  not  excited  such  a spirit  in  vain  ? From 


15 


the  present  slate  of  the  world,  and  from  a great  va- 
riety of  things  which  might  he  noticed  would  time 
permit,  may  we  not  cherish  the  pleasing  hope,  that 
the  time  to  favour  Zion,  to  enlarge  her  borders,  is 
come  ? Let  none  of  us  then  refuse  our  assistance  in 
promoting  so  glorious  an  object. 

Is  it  objected  against  aiding  the  missionary  cause, 
that  Christ  died  for  all : that  the  Holy  Spirit  is  giv- 
en to  all ; that  if  the  heathen  obey  the  suggestions  of 
the  Spirit,  they  will  be  accepted  through  the  blood  of 
Christ;  that  their  equitable  Judge,  having  given 
them  but  one  talent,  will  not  require  the  improve- 
ment of  ten  ? If  it  be  granted  that  the  salvation  of 
the  heathen  is  possible,  can  it  hence  be  inferred  that 
the  Gospel  is  not  an  inestimable  gift  ? That  it  is  not 
our  duty  to  send  it  to  them  ? If  it  is  possible  that  a 
person  in  this  land  of  light  can  be  saved  though  un- 
able to  read  the  Scriptures,  will  any  pretend  it  is  not 
highly  important  that  he  should  be  able  to  read  them  ? 
t(  Doth  not  Christianity  give  a perfection  to  man 
which  sets  him  almost  on  a level  with  angels  ? The 
spiritual  knowledge — of  a Confucius  or  a Socrates,  is 
no  more  to  be  compared  with  the  attainments  of  the 
meanest  child  of  God  under  the  dispensation  of 
Christ,  than  the  knowledge  of  a Hottentot  is  to  be 
weighed  against  the  cultivated  reason  of  a Newton/'* 


Horne’s  letters,  page  91. 


16 


My  brethren,  if  you  believe  the  great  excellence 
and  importance  of  our  holy  religion,  what  must  be 
your  views  of  the  condition  of  myriads  who  are  igno- 
rant of  the  great  discoveries  of  Revelation  ? Are  not 
the  glory  of  God  and  the  best  interest  of  men  con- 
nected with  sending  the  Gospel  to  those  who  sit  in 
darkness,  who  are  perishing  for  lack  of  vision  ? 
How  many  schemes  have  been  adopted,  what  exer- 
tions have  been  made,  for  the  attainment  of  wealth  ? 
What  are  the  riches  of  the  world  compared  with  the 
value  of  a soul,  capable,  through  divine  grace,  of 
enjoying  the  blessedness  of  heaven  through  eternity  ? 
Numbers  have  laboured  hard  to  procure  one  and 
another  worldly  object,  though  satisfied  that  all  their 
exertions  might  be  fruitless  : in  labouring  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  cause  of  Christ  among  the  heathen, 
we  labour  for  that  which  will  most  assuredly  be  ac- 
complished. God  has  declared  that  lie  will  save 
Zion.  Numerous  passages  in  His  Word  assure  us 
of  the  prevalence  of  the  cause  of  truth,  of  the  spread 
of  the  kingdom  of  Christ  in  the  world.  “The  earth 
shall  be  filled  with  the  knowledge  of  the  glory  of  the 
Lord,  as  the  waters  cover  the  sea.”  “All  the  ends 
of  the  earth  shall  see  the  salvation  of  our  God/’  “ I 
will  give  thee  the  heathen  for  thine  inheritance,  and 
the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth  for  thy  possession.” 
“ My  name  shall  be  great  among  the  heathen,  saith 
the  Lord  of  Hosts.”  “ The  kingdom,  and  the  great- 


17 


ness  of  the  kingdom  under  the  whole  heaven,  shall 
he  given  to  the  people  of  the  saints  of  the  Most  High.” 

Every  cause,  every  interest  but  that  of  Christi- 
anity must  and  will  come  to  a period.  All  the  great 
concerns  of  states  and  empires  arc  hastening  to  an 
end,  as  fast  as  time  revolves.  But  the  cause  of  God, 
the  interest  of  the  Redeemer’s  kingdom,  will  remain. 
It  will  continue  forever.  It  is  built  on  a foundation 
which  all  the  powers  of  darkness  will  not  be  able  to 
remove.  Who  is  not  pleased  with  that  excellent 
spirit  manifested  by  Wilberforce  and  others  in  their 
noble  exertions  for  the  abolition  of  the  Slave  Trade? 
and  more  lately  in  effecting  such  an  alteration  in 
the  Charter  of  the  East-India  Company,  that  pro- 
vision is  now  made  for  those  who  wish  to  reside  in 
India,  for  the  purpose  of  communicating  religious  in- 
struction to  the  natives  ? Will  not  their  names  be 
handed  down  to  posterity  by  the  faithful  historian 
with  the.  highest  celebrity  ? How  painful  the  thought 
that  the  exertious  of  many  who  are  called  Christians 
have  been  no  greater  to  save  souls  from  the  slavery 
of  sin.  u that  they  may  obtain  forgiveness,  and  an 
inheritance  among  them  that  are  sanctified.”  Con- 
sider, my  hearers,  that  the  conversion  of  the  heathen 
is  interesting  to  Christians  of  all  denominations. 
This  will  affect  the  universe  : for  so  far  as  this  great 
3 


18 


object  is  promoted,  so  far  "will  the  happiness  of  the 
universe  be  advanced. 

To  excite  you  to  unite  with  the  Society,  reflect 
on  the  magnitude  of  the  object  of  their  association. 
To  express  myself  in  the  language  of  my  Christian 
friends,  in  their  late  Address  to  the  Public,  u WiLl 
you  not  esteem  it  a privilege,  that  your  contributions 
may  in  a few  months  be  so  applied,  even  in  the  most 
remote  eastern  hemisphere,  as  to  commence  a scries 
of  good  effects  which  shall  never,  never  end  ; the 
number  and  magnitude  of  which  no  human  power 
can  calculate  ? A single  Bible  given  to  a Hindoo 
or  a Ceylonese,  may  be  the  means  of  enlightening  a 
family,  of  arousing  the  attention  of  a neighbourhood, 
of  withdrawing  a multitude  from  idolatry,  leading 
them  to  procure  the  Scriptures  for  themselves,  of 
turning  them  from  darkness  to  light,  from  the  powr- 
er  of  Satan  to  God.” 

r 

Have  any  of  you  reason  to  conclude  that  the  re- 
ligious privileges  which  you  have  enjoyed  from  early 
life,  have  been  made  savingly  beneficial  to  your  souls  ? 
Cultivate  a spirit  of  gratitude  to  that  God  from  whom 
cOmetli  down  every  good  and  perfect  gift.  Let  His 
goodness  excite  you  to  pray  for  the  enlargement  of 
His  Church,  for  the  success  of  those  exertions  which 
are  now  making  in  Europe  and  America  for  extend 


19 


ing  the  knowledge  of  Christ  through  the  world.  As 
you  love  your  Master,  His  cause  must  be  dear  to  you. 
I trust  you  are  not  strangers  to  that  benevolent  spirit 
expressed  by  the  pious  king  of  Israel : “ If  I forget 
thee,  O Jerusalem,  let  my  right  hand  forget  her  cun- 
ning. If  I do  not  remember  thee,  let  my  tongue 
cleave  to  the  roof  of  my  mouth  5 if  I prefer  not  Jeru- 
salem above  my  chief  joy.”  Your  Saviour  has  de- 
clared, “ Without  me  ye  can  do  nothing.”  An  apos- 
tle assures  you,  “ Neither  is  he  that  planteth  any 
thing,  neither  he  that  watercth,  but  God  that  giveth 
the  increase.”  How  important  that  Christians  should 
pray  earnestly  that  the  kingdom  of  their  Redeemer 
may  be  enlarged.  Great  has  been  the  efficacy  of 
prayer  in  every  period  of  the  Church.  To  encourage 
the  friends  of  Zion  in  the  practice  of  this  duty,  let 
them  remember  that  God  hath  never  said  to  <(  the 
seed  of  Jacob,  Seek  ye  me  iu  vain.” 

A11  opportunity  will  soon  be  offered  you  of  con- 
tributing for  the  purpose  of  meliorating  the  state  of 
the  heathen  w orld.  What  have  you  that  you  have 
not  received?  Are  any  disposed  to  excuse  them- 
selves by  saying,  “ Our  property  may  be  better  be- 
stowed on  the  poor  among  ourselves,  than  expended 
in  sending  the  Gospel  to  distant  nations”  ? Let  such 
persons  attend  to  the  words  of  Christ : (i  Ye  have 
the  poor  with  you  always,  and  whensoever  ye  will  ye 


20 


may  do  them  good  ; but  me  ye  have  not  always.”  You 
can  at  any  time  give  alms  to  the  needy  around  you  ; 
but  you  seldom  have  such  an  opportunity  to  apply 
your  substance  for  u opening  to  the  heathen  the  pros- 
pect of  immortality,  and  nourishing  them  with  the 
bread  of  life.”  How  weighty  the  motives  which 
urge  you  to  use  your  endeavours  to  save  the  souls  of 
your  fellow-men.  Suffer  me  to  invite  the  serious 
attention  of  every  Christian  to  the  great  price  with 
which  he  has  been  bought.  Has  the  blessed  Jesus 
died  like  a malefactor  on  the  cross  to  save  you  .J 
and  will  you  refuse  to  impart  of  your  substance  to 
promote  the  salvation  of  millions,  who  have  never 
enjoyed  the  offers  of  divine  mercy  ? But  I forbear 
to  enlarge  on  this  subject,  sensible  that  I am  ad- 
dressing those  who  live  in  a metropolis  where  acts 
of  liberality  have  so  much  abounded.  I trust  you 
are  not  u weary  in  w ell  doing.”  May  the  Almighty 
bless  you  with  the  riches  of  His  grace.  While  on 
earth  may  you  experience  the  fulfilment-  ot  these  de- 
clarations : “ There  is  that  scattereth,  and  yet  in- 
creasetli.”  “The  liberal  soul  shall  be  made  fat, 
and  he  that  watercth  shall  be  watered  also  himself.** 
When  summoned  to  the  bar  of  your  .Judge,  may 
you  be  so  happy  as  to  enjoy  the  approbation  of  Him 
who  hath  said,  “ It  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to 
receive .”  Amen. 


